Fist of the North Star: 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe!

Overview

Fist of the North Star: 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe!, released in Japan as Hokuto no Ken – Seizetsu Jūban Shōbu, is a competitive fighting game set in the desolate lands of the seminal manga/anime Hokuto no Ken. It was developed by Shouei System and initially released on December 22, 1989.

Originally published by Toei Animation for the Game Boy, at the height of that console’s popularity, this game brings the story and characters of Hokuto no Ken very faithfully, but its graphical and gameplay limitations, due to the hardware of this portable device, are widely criticized.

In any case, Fist of the North Star: 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe! is remembered by fans of the franchise for having been one of the first attempts to bring Kenshiro’s post-apocalyptic world to portable consoles and for being one of the first games based on Hokuto no Ken to reach a Western audience. Here, we have its online version ready to be played online, in your browser (HTML5).

Gameplay

Fist of the North Star: 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe! features eleven powerful warriors, each aiming to become the supreme ruler of this post-apocalyptic world and are waging war against each other. Among them is none other than Kenshiro, the heir to the lethal Hokuto Shinken technique. Determined to restore peace and justice, Kenshiro fights to defeat the other warriors, many of whom are cruel and merciless, and begin rebuilding a peaceful society in these desolate lands.

The game follows a one-on-one or five-on-five fighting format. Each character can punch and kick in the air, standing or crouching. Each has a specific special attack: a tackle or a fireball that must be charged. The controls are simple, consisting of two buttons: one for punching and one for kicking. Charged attacks are the main strategy for dealing considerable damage. To perform a charged attack, the player must hold down the button for a few seconds, filling a bar below the health bar, and release it to launch a special attack from a distance. This system is essential, since common attacks have limited range and impact.

The game offers three main modes: Normal, where the player faces the computer; VS, for battles between two players; and Team, where it is possible to form a team of five fighters and compete in tournament rounds. The player must face a series of opponents directly inspired by characters from the anime and manga. Each fight takes place in different scenarios, representing iconic locations from the series’ universe.

The gameplay is described by some as slow and lacking in variety. Fighters have few variations in their moves, resulting in repetitive combat. The opposing AI has a clear advantage in priority in moves, making things unfairly difficult and, in many cases, frustrating for the player. There are no combo systems or complex movements like in other fighting games released later, which limits the depth of combat.

10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe also implements an experience system that allows characters to “level up” as they progress, increasing their attack power. However, this element does not add much dynamism to the gameplay. In addition, it is possible to save progress using passwords provided at the end of battles.

Two-player multiplayer is possible with a link cable, but although this mode puts both players on equal terms, the simplicity of the combat system still limits how much this mode can be enjoyed.

Controls

• Arrow Keys – Move, crouch and jump
• Button 1 – Z (Punch)
• Button 2 – X (Kick)
• Start – Enter
• Attention – These controls are default for Player 1. Hover your mouse into the lower part of the screen and a control bar will show up. Click on the gamepad icon and set the Player 2 controls if you want to play Twin Cobra with a friend.
• These default controls can be changed in-game.

More info and anime

• Fist of the North Star: 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe @ Gaming Room – Source, with more info and media. In Portuguese.
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Fist of the North Star: 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe! gameplays, tips or walkthroughs

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